• Sadiq Can. The 45-yr-old Labor lawmaker has done it: The first Muslim to become London’ mayor, earning 57% of the vote.

• But not Europe’s first. Ahmed Aboutaleb of Moroccan origin is mayor of Rotterdam, Holland, since 2007. Erion Veliaj of Tirana and Shpend Ahmeti of Pristina are other current mayors. Muslim-majority Sarajevo elected Ivo Komsic, a Christian, in 2013.

• In the driving seat. His father drove the bus. He drives London; his mother sewn others’ clothes; he says will stitch relationships. Khan’s indeed is a modern fairytale journey to City Hall.

• Realpolitik. He stood with Israel on anti-semitism, compromising with the Labor line, in general. Jewish voters (a mere 3% of total pop.) were more than happy. Taking a stand on Islamophobia in Europe probably may come later.

• Embracing controversies. In Parliament, he voted for gay marriage and invited death threats; and now as London mayor the first thing he deemed fit was to attend Holocaust memorial ceremony. Food for speculation!

• Faith first! In 2009, he became the first Muslim member of the British Cabinet. The palace asked him, ‘What type of Bible’ he would want to swear on. He asked for the Qur’an, they said, ‘We haven’t got one.’ He took one with him to the palace.

• Why Conservative lost? It played divisive politics casting aspersion on Khan’s character linking him to extremist Muslim community. They lost. Is India’s Modi and his ilk listening?

• Pakistan’s pride? The country is in celebration mood. Bilawal Bhutto tweets: “Congratulations @SadiqKhan.” The question is, the country has many Sadiqs, then why it lags; and lacks such talent to shape a better future? It needs introspection more than just basking in the victory.

• The silver lining. Despite a persistent hate campaign against Muslims in the West, with several instances of Muslim passengers being pulled out from flights, 8.5m Londoners reposed faith in a Muslim to lead the very westerners.

• All is well that ends well. London is at the heart of global attention. A Sadiq defeat at the hands of racist Tories would have sent disturbing signals all across the world.

10 things about the man who tore the Tories apart

1. Khan is London’s third mayor after Labour’s Livingstone (2000-2008) and Conservative Boris Johnson (2008-2016).

2. He virtually told Londoners: My name is Sadiq Aman Khan and I am here for ‘aman’ (peace). Voters trusted him and handed him a handson win with 1,310,143 votes, as against 994,614 votes to Zac Goldsmith of Conservative party.

3. Khan had joined the Labour Party when he was 15. Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was at the helm.

4. Born in London in 1970 to Pakistan-origin parents, he was the fifth child out of seven brothers and one sister.

5. He traces his origin to Karachi where his grandparents migrated from India in 1947. So, migration is in his blood.

6. He grew up in public housing in Tooting, an ethnically mixed residential area in south London.

7. His modest background plays well in a city that is proud of its diversity and loves a self-made success story.

8. Faced with racist attacks in the streets, he had become a boxer to defend himself well.

9. Sadiq promises to be ‘mayor for all Londoners’ by providing more affordable housing and transport; reducing pollution and creating better paid jobs

10. Tearing Tories apart, Khan ended eight years of Conservative rule at City Hall, in one of the most controversial elections in recent times.